Palm Sunday – the popular name of one of the major festivals of Christians –Entry into Jerusalem.
This celebration falls on the last Sunday of Lent.
The holiday is dedicated to the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. People happily greeted Jesus with songs and flowers, as well as the stele under his feet, his clothes and palm branches – the plants, symbolizing purity and infallibility. Catholics called this holiday – Palm Sunday. But a palm tree in our latitudes is not growing, so in our Ukrainian tradition, it was replaced by willow branches, which blooms after the first onset of winter and symbolizes the beginning of a new life. A festival called Palm Sunday.
Willow twigs prepare better for the holiday in advance. It happens that the early Easter, and spring – cold, and then the willow does not have time to blossom before the holiday. In this case, for 4-5 days cut the branches and put them in water in the room. If the weather is favorable and bloom buds, twigs cut the day before.
Religious people on Palm Sunday go to the church services. After the service blessing and sanctifying of Palm branches are observed.
Sanctified branches are taken home. The first thing to slap the beam of children and other household members, saying, “Verba-whipping, beat to tears. I did not beat, willow beats! Be healthy, like water, strong as willow, as rich as the earth!” Why is the willow as a symbol of strength and health? Because it is one of the most tenacious plants. Observed that accepted and grow even those of its branches, which are stuck into the ground upside down.
A few sprigs of willow can be put into the water, and when they take root, planted near the house, but on another day. If twigs take root, a plant grown will protect family home from adversity.
The rest of the beam should be kept for the images. Buds and twigs of willow svyachenoy people attributed magical and medicinal properties. Willow twigs thrown into the water for bathing small or ill children. Twigs also were applied to the sore spots. During a disaster, willow twig thrown into the street to misery spared the home side. But there is a warning –you do not need to bother wasting willow, use of these tools can be used only when necessary.
Remaining from last year’s holiday twigs should be burned or thrown into the current (not standing!) Water.
It is believed that indoor plants, planted on Palm Sunday, grow well and bring to the house wealth.
Palm Sunday falls on Lent, so tumultuous festivities suit is not necessary, but that day, a harbinger of Easter should be bright and cheery.
Finally, my brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise. Live according to what you have learned and accepted what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then will the God of peace be with you.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week April 12 – 19 in memory of William Kloap by his wife Florence Kloap & Family.

HOLY WEEK – Please remember that help is needed to participate in the Holy Week services. Holy Thursday, 4:00 PM, Good Friday, 3:00 PM and Resurrection Services Holy Saturday, 7:00 PM. Help will be needed to set up the grave after the Holy Thursday evening services. Try to lend a helping hand. Sign up sheet is in the vestibule for Adoration. Time to spend with God. Give an hour of your time for HIM.

APPRECIATION: We thank all who brought the Willow branches and all who helped tie the Palm & Branches Your help is always appreciative. God’s blessing to all.

SVIACHENE: Our Parish Sviachene (Easter Dinner) is
planned for Sunday, May 18, 2014 in our Church Hall at
2:00 PM. Tickets are available.
Get your tickets early so plans can be made for the affair.
The tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children under 12.
This is a very nice affair to have our Parish get together.
Plan on attending and bring your friends and family.

SVIACHENE: Our Sviachene (Easter Dinner) is being
planned for Sunday, May 18, 2014 in our Church Hall at
2:00 PM. Tickets will be available next week.
Get your tickets early so plans can be made for the affair.
The tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
This is a very nice affair to have our Parish get together.
Plan on attending and bring your friends and family.

This schedule is for Holy Week – times for all services are tentative and may change in next weeks bulletin if there is a change.

One day a poor peddler went to the marketplace to sell a basket of eggs. He came upon a crown mocking a man who staggered with a heavy cross on which he was about to be crucified. The peddler ran to his aid, leaving the basket by the roadside. When he returned, he found the eggs transformed into exquisite design of bright colors.
The man was Christ; the peddler, Simon. And the eggs were to become the symbol of rebirth for all mankind.
Ukrainian Folk Tale….
May All of the Wonder and Beauty of the Holy Season
Be Yours
PALM SUNDAY: Palm Sunday is next week and we are in need of Pussy Willows. We are asking for help to tie the branches and palm for distribution. Please, if you can lend a hand, this will be after the Stations of the Cross on Friday, April 11th. . If you bring any branches at this time, please put them at the Hall entrance. Thank you.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week, April 5 – 12 in honor of Jaclyn Rudeski 25th Birthday that she will celebrate on April 8th requested by her parents Jack & Annetta Rudeski. Mnohya Lita! Jaclyn.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles are requested to burn during all scheduled services in the month of April by Becky Molecavage in memory of her mother Frances Bencho.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The Women’s Society will meet Tuesday, April 8th in the Church Hall at 6:30 PM. Please try to attend. President Anna Magill will preside.

LOTTERY TICKETS: The month of May Lottery tickets are available Please try to do your part by purchasing a few tickets and if possible take some to sell to your friends & family.

HOLY WEEK: Please remember Holy Week is 2 weeks away. A need for the men of the Parish to sign up for the Candles held for the reading of the Gospels, the procession on Good Friday and before Resurrection Services.
Everyone available sign in for the Adoration at the grave. The schedule is in the vestibule. Spend some time with the Lord for all He has done for us.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers Rev. Ruslan Romanyuk, Pastor of Transfiguration of Our Lord UCC in Shamokin, PA. He is very sick and your prayers are needed for his recovery.
Great Fast
After Christianity came to Ukraine, the coming of spring took on new meaning, as it also signaled the approach of Easter. The forty days preceding Easter are known as the “Great Fast” (or Lenten Period) and are spent by the faithful readying themselves spiritually for the great day when Christ’s Resurrection will be celebrated.
Prayer and penitence are a part of the “Great Fast”. The faithful often deny themselves certain types of food and recreation in order to express remorse for their sins. “Stations of the Cross” are usually held on Wednesdays or Fridays during Lent. The “Stations” represent the fourteen instances of pain and suffering that Jesus endured in his final day on earth over two thousand years ago.
During the “Great Fast”, there are also special services held for the deceased members of each parish. These requiem services, know as “Sorokousty”, usually involve the reciting of the names of individual family members from the parish who have died. The word “Sorokousty” literally means “forty monks”, and refers back to a time when requiem services were held in monasteries by forty monks who would pray in unison for the souls of the deceased. It was also tradition in Ukraine that, during the period of the “Great Fast”, parishioners make it a “duty” to make a good confession of their sins. This would be done so that their souls may be prepared for the reception of the Body of Christ on Easter morning. Another custom closely following the idea of the “Easter Duty” was that of reconciliation of relatives and neighbors when there had been problems or difficulties in the family or neighborhood.
In Ukraine, Lent was also a time when great attention was paid preparing the home and family clothing for the arrival of Easter: Much fixing up and whitewashing was done to the home and articles of clothing were repaired and cleaned. In recognition of the new life of Christ‘s raising from the dead, each family member was also provided with some new article of clothing.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of
March 29 – April 5 by Paul & Marion Rose for a Special Intention.

THE SHROUD OF TURIN: Our thanks to Paul & Dolores Hoover for their donation of $100 toward the Shroud expenses. The Donations of Parishioners and visitors amounted to $2985. This will help defray the expenses for all the necessary preparations, etc. for honoring the Shroud in our Church. Thanks again to all who helped with the visitations, prayers and organization to make this event so beautiful. The visitation during this time was 730 visitors and about 375 in attendance at the Friday evening presentation.

LOTTERY TICKETS: The Lottery tickets are available for the month of May. Please try to do your part by purchasing at least 5 tickets and if you are able to sell some take a few to sell. Your help is very important for this project.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The Women’s Society will meet for their regular monthly meeting after a long cold winter, on Tuesday, April 8, in the church hall at 6:30 PM. Please try to attend. President Anna Magill will preside.

COUNCIL MEETING: The Parish Council will meet on Tuesday, April 1, in the church hall at 6:30 PM. All members please try to be present for this meeting.

WILLOWS BRANCHES: If you have any pussy willows to donate for Palm Sunday, please bring them to the church at your convenience. It is two week until Palm Sunday.

OUR FELLOWSHIP: Our thanks to all those who were so kind to supply our desserts and monetary gifts for the fellowship after the deanery Stations of the Cross last Sunday. We had a nice turn out and thanks to all the men and women who help with the preparations and servings.

ADORATION AT THE GRAVE: A chart is available for you to sign in for the Adoration of the Grave. This is an early request hoping all the hours will be filled. Spend some time with Our Lord during this time of prayer.